Rotary engine.



J. SHAW.

ROTARY ENGINE.

1 APPLIGATION FILED 11:13.28, 1913.

1,078,170. 1 Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l,

J. SHAW.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIGATIQN FILED Huma, 191s.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lll Il J. SHAW.

ROTARY ENGNEJ APPLICATION FILED Films, 1913.

1,078,170. Patentd Nov. 1.1, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

of the JAMES SHAW, QF, DAUPHIN, MANITOBA, CANADA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

horaire.

r Application filed February 28, 1913. Serial No. 751,224.

fo all 'whom Zy may concern Be it known that I, JAMES SHAW, ot the town of Dauphin, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada,-\ have invented certain new and useful `improvements in Rotary Engines, ct' which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in rotary engines and the object of the invention is to provide an easily assembled, eiiicient steam engine of the rotary type wherein thc steam is fully' expanded in spiral paths formed in a suitably incased rotatably mounted rotor.

A further ohject of, the invention is, in an engine of the abovetype to construct the rotorin an inexpensive and durable manner and arrange it so. that a large iinpinffing suriauce is exposed in the .spiral paths above mentioned in` which the steam trai'els prior to exhausting. 4

A still 'further objecty of the invention is to provide an improved form of alve for admitting the steam to lthe rotor, the pan ticular feature of the Valve being 'that it is o'l' the rotary typ/e and that it is supplied with. of nozzles for 'reversing purposes.

W ith the above objects in view the invention cons ,ts essentially 'in a stator, or casing, a rotor suitably' mounted in the casing and presenting a plurality of disks spaced in a particular manner to provide spiral. paths between them, a rotatably mounted drive sha-lit keyed to the rotor7 a, ')lurality ot' valves :tor admitting live steam between thc disks at the circumference thereof. means for controlling the valves and means for releasing the exl'iaust steam from the centers ot the disks to theY eX- terior of the stator, the parts being arranged and constructed as hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended clainfls. litigare l representsan end view of a coinpl-ete engine. Fig. represents a side View same. 3 represents a vertical cross sectional view centrally through the engine. Fig. a represents a longitudi-v nal sectional view ,hroughthe engine, the section being talon in the plane denoted by the line hr;- ll Fig. l. certain parts being shown. in side elevation. Fig. 5 repre- 'sentis a tace View of one of the disks. Fig. 't'represents a side View of one of the disks.

Fig.- is a vertical sectional View through parte of the rot-or and stator, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the. line Y-Y Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a ysectional View through a portion .of the rotor, the section heilig taken in the plane denoted by the line Z-Z Fig. 3.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure. l

l represents a stator, or inclosingcasing Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 11, 1913. i

which comprises a body piece-2 to which, I

have attached head plates 3 and. 4 'by suitably located bolts .Within thecasing I have mounted a rotor 6,- the construction of i which is now described in detail. i

7 and 8 are circular similare-nd plates fitted centrally with similar bosses 9 and? t rotatably mounted in the head plates;v

The bosses are itted with exhaustslots 11 j arranged `concentrically around a drive .shaft l2 permanently fastened to the endv plates by keys 1,3.

lll is a hollow tube located between the end plates r and 8 and surrounding the shaft, which tube forms an exhaust chamber" l which connnunicates with l the slotsalready mentioned. i

lo are similar circular 'disks mounted on the tube li and located between the end plates, the disks being of the samediameter as the end plates. Each disk is corrugatedv as best shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 of the drawings and they are spaced apart by sets of spacing bars 17, i8, 19, and 2l secured to the disks and arranged. at differentadii to the center of the disks.

'lhe bars are all serpentine in form so as lit between the corrugations of adjoining disks when the disks with-attached bars' are'threaded on the tube.' They are also bentconcentric to the shaft. vThe bars comprising each set are arranged so that an opening is reserved a adjacent ends of the bars in each set. These bars are spaced to provide virtually'a Se ries ot' spiral paths tor the steamv between 22 between theI the disks, one oi these' paths being shown in Fig. 3 ci" the drawings a dotted `l`line 1` 2B which it will be noticed passes more or 105 less in a spiral manner from the. circum#- ference of the disk to the center thereof.

When the end plates T and 8,` tube4 14 and 'disks with attached spacing bars have been assembled they are fastened permanentlytogether by tie rods 24 passing through the disks and into the end plates. The central tube la is perforated `at 25 to allow the steam admitted between the' disks to escape through the tube to the exhaust chamber '15. The rotor, it will be noticed is rotatably mounted in the stator, the outer edges of the disks -and end plates making a frictional contact with the body ieee i y P The head plates 3 and 4 are cast with four projecting spaced studs 26, 2i', 28 and 29 arranged concentric to the shaft 12, which studs are made substantially square in cross section See Fig. 7) .to carry follower bars 30 of a T-shaped section having the webs 3l thereof extending between the studs and bearing continuously onv the backs of segmental bushings 32 whiclrreceive the protruding ends of the bosses 9 and l0. The follower barsare held to the studs by adjustable set screws 33. As the bushings .wear the set screws can bte-tightened up which action will draw the follower bars in toward the bosses.

34 and l5 are stuti'ing boxes receiving rotatably the extending ends of the shaft l2.- Thete stutliner boxes bear against the outer Vfaces of the follower bars and bushings and are cast with tour projecting lugs 36 (see Figs. l and 2) which are fastened by bolts 37 to the studs 26, 27, 28 and 29. lt is here to he noticed that the stuifing boxes are de'- signed to provide auxiliary exhaust chambers 3S and 3S) which communicate continuonsly with the outer ends of the slots 1l in the bosses.

4() and t1 are exhaust pipes carried by tho stalling boxes and f :ommunicating with' the auxiliary exhaust chambers.

rlhe shaft 12 is supplied with a pulley 'ft2 for driving` purposes.

Llil, 44, 45 and ttl are similar rotary valves "rotatably mounted 1in suitable cylindrical valve cas-ings li', 4H, 49 and D() cast. integral with the bcdy piece. 2 and having their ends closed by the'head plates which are Apro vided with projecting portions .Tl supplied for this purpose.

Although l have supplied the engine-in the present case with four valves it will be understood that this number can be ini creased or diuiiuished accordingI to retpiire- `nients. ',lhe valve. in each case is in the form of a solid cylinder having a flattened face 52 and irovidcd throughout. its length with pairs o' nozzles 53 and 54, the nozzles being' cone-shaped and passing from the flattened :tace of the valve to the opposite face thereof. liy so flattening the valves l provide steam chests 55, 56, 37 and 5H respectively between the flattened faces of the valves and the opposing inner walls ,of the val ve casings.

ner ends of the nozzles and admit'v steam to the rotor between the disks. It will here he not-iced that if the entry ports, which. are the same size as the inner ends ot the nor.- Zles, be made with a diameter slightly greater than the distance, between the disks, they will. admit steam between several of the disks as the rotor rotates owing to the corrugated construction of the disks.

y The valves are fitted with spindles 63, tit, 65, 66 which extend through suitable stuit'- ing boxes carried by the head plate 3.

6T, 68, 69 and 70 are steam pipes opeiiing to-tlie respective steam chests. These pipes are connected to a horizontally disposed feed pipe 7l in turn connmmicating with a main steam pipe 72.

73 and 't3' are valves located in the pipes 7l at opposite sides of the main pipe T2 and 74 and 7% are further valves located in the pipes 69 and T0. These valves control the passage of steam from the main pipe to the respective chests as will be readily understood.

75 is a lever rotatably mounted on the stutling box which lever is provided with the usual hand latch 75 and dctent` lot,

'the detent operating` over a quadranti itl permanently mounted on the stalling box at'. the inner side of the lever.

77 iS a collar mounted on the sluiting box at the outer side ot the lever and fastened to said stutiing box by a set screw 7l'.

78, 7S)7 S() and Si. are cranks permanently secured. to the spindles Gil, (54, (55 and titi rcspectively in a set position to the nozzles.

he cranks 7S and T9 are connected by links 82 and Sil to the lever 75 at a point, above the shaft while the cranks Stland Si are connected to the lever by links S4 und Sii -fastened to said lever at. points below the shaft.

Sti is a drip pipe 'ipcning to the, interior of the casing at the, bottom, the said pipe being supplied with a suitable drip cock Si.

ln the drawings l have shown tht` lever and valves in the position in which they appear when the engine is running` in a for ward or clockwise direction. lt will lic seen that the steam .admitted through the feed pipes to the chests 55, titl, 57 and Fir? is freed through the nozzles ."i-lv and cntijv ports to the opening` between the disks` the said noz zlcs being arranged to inject the steam in a direction more orless tangential tothe disks.-

'l`he steam upon being admitted in thisl man ner impinges the disks striking the presented corrugations thereof, which viw'ing to lot) llG

ves

such as that-Q3 indicated. ln this way If obtain an ecient 'expansion of the steamy in the rotorand alsop'rovide a large. ini- E pingin'g surface for the steam when passing through the rotor in the spiral paths prior to exhausting.

To stop -'the 'engine it is only necessary"` to throw the lever to the upright fposition, which action is designed to turn the valves I through 'the links to a position wherein the entry ports 59, 60, '61 and *62 are closed by the faces of the respective valves, a sufficient distanbe being reserved on 'the face of each valve between the inner Vends ofthe nozzles to permit `of this.

To reverse the 'engine the lever is swung until the no'zles 53 register with the entry ports 59, GO, 6l and 62 and it is also to be: noticed 'that the said nozzles are. designed` so as to injectA the steam between the disks :ip direction more or less tangential to the 1S (S.

By manipulating the valves 73, 7 3', 74 and f Til 'one can run the engine with one, two, three or f o-urof the valves admitting steam to the rotor as desired.

"What l claimA as my invention is l. The combination comprising a stator,I a pair of similar opposed end plates rotatably mounted within the stator, a cen-i trally disposed drive shaft carried by the end plates, there being exhaust slots in the end plates adjoining the shaft,a perforated, tube surrounding the shafts and bet-Ween the end plates, said tube inclosing an exhaust chamber communicating with Athe lexhaust slots, a plurality of similar spaced disks mounted on the tube and permanently secured to the end plates, thecpenimglgs appearing between the vdisks communicating through the perforations in the tube with the exhaust chamber and means for admitting live steapi between the disks at the circumference thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

2. rhe'. combination comprising a stator or incv osing casing, an opposing pair of circular end plates located in the casing at opposite sides thereof, a drive rshaft passin centrally through .the end plates and keye to the same, there being exhaust slots inthe end plates adjoining the shaft,a perforated tube located between the disksl and sin"-` rounding the shaft, said tube forming an exhaust chamber communicating. continuously with the cxhaustslots, a plurality of similar spaced disksnwunted on the tube and contact-ing frictionaliy with the inner wall of the casing, theA spaces between the disks communicating through the perforations in the vtube"Withjthe exhaust chamber and a plurality ofl valves carried by the casing and' disp'osedgaround thezcircumference of the disks, sai'dyalvesbein" designjed to j admit lire,Istestualietween;,theI isks in. a dispecified.

chamber, as and lfor the purpose specified.

`"rec'tion tangential to the disks, as and fo the purpose specified.

3. The combination comprising stator or in'closing casing, an opposing pair of cir- Q 'cular end plates located in the casingat opposite sides thereof, a drive shaft passing centrally through the end plates and keyed to the same, there being exhaust slots in the end plates adjoining the shaft, a perforated tube located between the disks vand surrounding the shaft, said tube forming an exhaust chamber communicating continuously with the exhaust slots, a plurality of similar disks mounted o` the tube, sets of spacing bars interposed'fjbetween the disks and arranged concentric 'with the shaft, the bars -i'n each set having the ends spaced apart to provide openings, and a plurality of valves 'disposed around the circumference of the disks designed to admit live steam between vthe disks and'in a direction tangential to the same, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In al rotary engine, a rotor comprising a centrally disposed shaft, a pair of similar opposing end plates keyed on the shaft and provided with exhaust slots adjoining the shaft, a perforated tube between .the plates and surrounding the shaft, said tubeV forming a central exhaust chamber communicating with the exhaust slots and a plurality of spaced 4circular disks mounted on vthe tube between the end plates and ,having the 'spaces between the disks communicating 'through the perforations in the tubewith the exhaust chamber, as and for the pur-` pose specified.

5. In a rotary engine, a rotor comprising a centrally disposed shaft, a pair of similar opposing end plates keyed on `the shaft and .provided with exhaust slots adjoining' the shaft, a perforated tube between the plates and surrounding the shaft, said tube forming a central .exhaust chamber communieating with the exhaust slots, a plurality of spaced corrugated disks mounted on the tube between the end plates and having the space between -the disks communicating through the perforations in the tube with. the exhaust chamber, as and for the purpose 6. In arotary engine,- a rotor comprising a centrally disposed shaft, a pair of similar opposing end plates keyed on the shaft and provided with exhaust slots adjoining the shaft, a perforated tube between the plates and surrounding the shaft, said tube forming a central exhaust chamber communieating with the exhaust slots, a plurality of similar corrugated disks mounted on the tube and sets of spacing bars inserted between the disks, thefspaces so reserved between the disks communicating through the perforations in the tube with the exhaust `opposing ing a central exhaust chamber communi- I each set a with a plurality disks and eating with the exhaust slots, a plurality of similar corrugated. disks mounted on the tube, sets of spacing bars disposed between the disks,v the bars in each set being located at diierent radii from the center of the shaft and having the ends of the 'bars of spaced apart to present openings, the openings between the ends of the respective-sets of bars being staggered in relation toeach other, as and for the purpose l 8. In a rotary engine the combination with a stator and a rotor presenting a plu rality of similar spaced circular disks, of a plurality of suitably inoased rotary valves mounted'in the stator and at thevcircuin- `ference of the disks, and provided with coneshapedlnozzles and means for adjusting the valves, `as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a rotary engine the combination of similar spaced circular a stator inclosing the rotor and providing a plurality .of valve casings disposed around the rotor and opening through suitable inlet ports to the edges of the disks,

of similar cylindrical valves mounted in the valve casings and provided throughout their length with pairs of coneshaped nozzles designed to register with the inlet ports and means for manipulatin the valves, as and for the purpose specie l0. In a rotary engine the combination with a plurality of similar spacedcircular disks and a stator inclosing the rotor and providing a plurality of valve casin'gs dis posed around the rotor and opening through suitable inlet ports to the edges of the disks, of similar cylindrical valves rotatably mounted in the casing and having each a flattened face providing in each instance rotatably a steam chest between said ilattened facel and the opposing Wall of the valve casing and supplied further throughout their len th with pairs of cone-shaped nozzles 4having the contracted ends of the nozzles communieating continuously with the steam chest in each instance and the enlarged ends of the nozzles designed to register with the inlet ports aforesaid and means for simultane oiisly shiftin the valves, as and for the purpose specieg.

Signed at Winnipeg this 6 day of F ebruary, 1913. Q l JAMES In the presence of- Gr. S. Kommen, L. Gouin; 

